Environmental Site Overview - East Hampton, Connecticut

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SECTION 4 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Tighe&Bond Historically, these were appealing reasons to make East Hampton the site of a new industrial center. The Air Line Railroad was built to connect Boston with New York City in virtually a straight line - the shortest route possible. The location of the route was drawn “through the air” via the city of New Haven. By 1873, this railroad was functioning from New Haven to Willimantic. At these points, the Air Line was able to link with other rail lines to connect New York and Boston in the shortest way possible. This railroad provided a means for the industries to receive supplies and to ship their products. The railroad traversed the Village Center in an east-west direction running parallel to Walnut Avenue. The area is now preserved as the Air Line Trail. Pocotopaug Lake and Creek provided a convenient access to fresh water. This water was used as a means to generate electricity, cool industrial processes, and discharge waste. Within the last one-hundred years, the shape and volume of the Pocotopaug Creek has been altered. In particular, there were several ponds numbered sequentially from the north to the south. These ponds were joined by the Pocotopaug Creek. First Pond, as referenced on historic maps, is the location of Bevin Pond. The pond was expanded in 1860 with the building of a dam slightly north of the current Bevin Brothers location. Historic maps and aerial photographs indicate the volume of this pond has not been altered substantially since the 1860’s. Second Pond is located due east of 13 Summit Street. Historic maps and aerials indicate that the pond was much larger then it’s current volume. Third Pond was positioned at the corner of Summit Street and Watrous Street. The pond no longer exists and is currently the site of parking for 12 Summit Street. Review of an aerial photograph taken in 1934 demonstrates the existence of the pond. Fourth Pond has also been completely drained. It formerly occupied a large area south of Walnut Street and east of Main Street. Examination of 1934 aerial photography indicated the pond had been substantially drained prior to that photograph. The majority of historic industrial development in East Hampton occurred along Pocotopaug Creek. To understand the historic industrial use of the Village Center it is necessary to reference them to current locations. However, many of the historic streets have been altered in name and location. Before discussing individual historic sites, it is necessary to clarify some of these discrepancies. • Abell Avenue was the name of the road that looped from Main Street to Summit Street. The street has since been divided into Walnut Avenue and Watrous Street. • Older Sanborn Historic Maps (1908) refer to Summit Street as Mill Street. • Bevin Court was formerly named Lake Street. Starr Place was formerly named Summit Avenue. Environmental Site Overview 4-4
SECTION 4 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS Tighe&Bond 4.3.2 Historic Industrial Sites Bevin Brothers Bell Shops Current reference location: The site still manufactures bells and is located at site 1 on Figure 2. Bevin Brothers Bell Shop manufactured many types of bells including advertisement bells, patio bells, hand bells, cow bells, door bells, fog bells, fund-raining bells, sleigh bells, shop keeper bells, call bells, patio bells, barbecue bells, tea bells, Christmas bells, and souvenir bells. Abner and Chauncey Bevin started their business in 1832. The 2 ½ story, 32’ x 20, building, with gable roof and vertical-board siding, was originally located at the former outlet of Bevin’s Pond, several hundred yards northwest from its present site. When the pond was expanded in the mid-1860s with the building of a new dam downstream on Pocotopaug Creek, the frame shop was relocated adjacent to the factory on the new outlet (Society for Industrial Archeology). New construction in 1880 and 1904-1910 replaced the 1860s building. Brick structures erected in 1880 include a 2 ½ –story factory, 188 ft x 48 ft with gable roof, a 1 ½ story foundry, 161 ft x 31 ft with (present) near-flat roof, and two smaller buildings for tumbling, finishing , packing and storage (Society for Industrial Archeology). Review of the 1903 Sanborn Map depicts a spill way from Bevin’s Pond running through the center of the property (Pocotopaug Creek). There is a turbine located in the center of the plant between the factory and foundry building. A penstock is shown conveying water from the First Pond (Bevin’s Pond) to the turbine. The Sanborn Map lists the power for the plant as water, steam, and gasoline. Heat is listed as steam; fuel is listed as coal. Two furnaces are referenced on the map, one located in the foundry, and the second in a building to the east of the foundry. Moving slightly east of the foundry was the location of sand, coal, and charcoal storage. A plating area, whitening room, boxing room, and an engine room housing a 15-horse power engine were located in the center of the complex, adjacent to the spill way. A japanning area is shown on the south side of the complex adjacent to Pocotopaug Creek. The firm added two 2-story brick factories (83 ft x 72 ft and 98 ft x 37 ft) in 1904. In 1905, the 1880 brick factory gained a 1-story, 172 x 26 ft wing made of poured concrete (Society for Industrial Archeology). Reviewing the 1908 Sanborn Map, the area located to the east of the foundry has the designation of scrap melting. In addition, metal shavings are stored in the area north of the newly constructed metal plating and polishing machine shop. The 1925 Sanborn Map no longer depicts the spillway traversing the building. However, Pocotopaug Creek is depicted at the southern portion of the complex. An enameling area is also shown adjacent to the Creek on the southern end of the property. The Sanborn Map lists lighting as electric, heat as steam, and power as water, gas, and electric. A 10,000-gallon buried oil tank is depicted north of factory building. Water Environmental Site Overview 4-5
Page 1 and 2: TABLE OF CONTENTS Tighe&Bond LETTER
Page 3 and 4: SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION Tighe&Bond 1
Page 5 and 6: SECTION 2 INITIAL SITE SELECTION Ti
Page 7 and 8: SECTION 3 SITE DATABASE Tighe&Bond
Page 9 and 10: SECTION 4 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CON
Page 11: SECTION 4 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CON
Page 23 and 24: SECTION 6 REFERENCES Tighe&Bond Top

Environmental Site Overview - East Hampton, Connecticut

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